Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-05

doubly fortunate, as he has subsequently,
won the thanks Of the French Gov
eminent for his successful efforts in be-
half of the negotiations between France
and the Government OF Great Britain
and Ireland relating to the Suez canal.
and which have resulted in an agreement
satisfactory to both parties. AT no time
since Italy became a nation, IN 1870, has
it been stronger than now under the
premiership Of Signor Crispi, who Is one
of the great figures in contemporary
politics. His policy, in common, 1t IS
believed, with that of Germany, Austria,
and England, is to prevent an aggressive
alliance between France and Russia. In
its prevention lies the strong probability
of continued peace in Europe.
Crispi has been familiar figure IL
Italian politics since 1861, when he was
elected for Palermo to sit in the Chamber
of Deputies at Turin, the first parliament
of the new kingdom of Italy. At that
period Venice and the Quadrilaterial, in
Guiding Verona and Mantua, still re-
NAMED under the Austrian empire, while
Rome was held by n French garrison
for the Pope. The revolution Ia Sicily
and in Naples, expeIling Francis
H., had been effected by the vic
tories Of Garibaldi in the precedingyear.
Among its most active local supporters
at Palermo was Francesca Crispi, young
barrister who was born at Siberia, IN
Sicily, in October, 1919, and had, IN 1873,
taken part in the instruction provoked
by the tyranny of King Ferdinand, the
" Bombs" of popular detestation. That
instruction was suppressed in Naples
and Sicily by an army OF Swiss and
other foreign mercenaries. Some who
had, like young Crispi, taken up arms
with the insurgents, made their escape
to France, but came to Piedmont
or Genoa when the era of constitutional
liberty for Italians was opened by the
administration of D'Azeglio and con
firmed by that Of Count Cavour. In
1859, France and Sardinia having de-
clared war against Austria and promised
the liberation Of all Italy, the petty
governments Of Central Italy were over
thrown by popular demonstrations; and
in the autumn Of 1860 the expedition oil
Garibaldi from Genoa, which was ac-
companied by Crispi, speedily effected
the downfall of the Bourbon dynasty.
Crispi fought as a soldier for the liberty
of Sicily, and held office in its provision
al government till its annexation to the
Kingdom Of Italy. He appeared in the
Italian Parliament as the right-hand man
of Garibaldi, whose views were opposed
to the policy of Cayour, and who loudly
demanded an immediate attack on the
remaining Papal dominion, at the cost
of war with France, for the conquest
OF Rome, and a renewal of the war
with Austria for the deliverance OF We
nice. Crispi continued for many years
to be a leader of the "EXtreme Left, "
or Democratic party, while he showed
constant hostility to french influence IN
the affairs of Italy. But since the indie
pendent position of Italy among the
European Powers has become secure,
and Since the acquisition of Venice, in
1886, and of Rome, in 1870, satisfied the
aspirations OF Italian nationality, the
grounds of those party differences have
been removed. ,
Sjgnor Crispi, in 1876, was elected
President of the Chamber of Deputies.
The late Siguor Depretls, premier OF
Italy, called Crispi to Office as Minister
of Foreign Affairs. On the death OF
Depre.is Crispi became president of the
Council OF Ministers.